Monaco face Cercle Bruges as Michal joins on loan
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
AS Monaco play Cercle Bruges in a pre-season friendly at La Turbie on 31 July, with striker Lucas Michal loaned to the Belgian club ahead of the fixture.
AS Monaco return to La Turbie on Friday 31 July for their third pre-season outing, kicking off at 17h against Cercle Bruges in a closed-doors fixture. The Belgian First Division club, in which Monaco hold a significant ownership stake, makes for a familiar but useful opponent at this stage of preparation.
Striking reinforcement for Cercle comes in the form of Lucas Michal, loaned to the club on 30 July. The Monaco attacker, previously on loan at Metz in January, will gain valuable first-team experience with the Belgian side during the campaign.
The Rouge et Blanc go into the match with a mixed pre-season record. A comfortable 5-2 victory over Saint-Priest, a French National 1 side, was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Sporting CP in Portugal last Saturday. Friday's game gives the coaching staff another look at the squad before the competitive season begins.